Families of Depressed & Bipolar Kids Community

Hi,

It is very common for a mood inflicted person to not be able to tolerate SSRI medications.

Sometimes when a child has been stable for quite sometime a pdoc (short for psychiatrist) may try very cautiously - in low doses, an antidepressant. If the child becomes manic or has extreme side-effects, then they need to get off of it.
Similar to what you experienced.

Regarding the Abilify and dosing, I would refer to the pdoc.
Hopefully he is well versed it treating children.

I also urge you to check into the great organization:
The Balanced Mind (http://www.thebalancedmind.org/ )

The parents on there are dealing with the same type of situations that you are. There is a ton of support and knowledge that has been my lifeline!

Take care!!!
((Hugs))
-Kathleen

Is this website also for parents of children with a mood disorder/ OCD/Anxiety. My son is not bipolar, but has the mood swings due to Sensory Integration Dysfunction and the other things I mentioned. I beginning to wonder if they will go back to try just the 10mg of celexa. I guess the doc will have to help me decide what is best either to try the celexa or just 2mg of abilify. We just want to get him through the school year. It's scary when he has his rages and hits the wall and can't self regulate. The celexa was helping with that, but a personality change is not acceptable to me. Just wish the lamictal could help with all of that. I am surprised if the lamictal is a mood stabilizer that he would still have problems regulating his emotions.

I appreciate all of your helpful advice.

Hi again,

Yes, the website is for parents who have children with mood and like disorders.......such as OCD, ODD, PDD etc...

It is not uncommon for children w/mood disorders to have comorbid diagnoses - we sometimes call it Alphabet soup diagnosis, because there can be so many..lol !

You don't mention your son's lamictal dose? Often times the child needs two medications, an AP med and a mood stabilizer to reach better stability.

Has he had an OT evaluation, and go to OT weekly?

-Kathleen

He getd psychotherapy weekly, but we can't afford OT. HE had it from the time he was 2 months to around 6.

My son takes 200 mg of extended release of lamictal. I talked to the doc yesterday and she said we should go back to the celexa, but just a half a tablet, so 10 mg. We think he might not have the activation with that amount.

Thanks for the info because I didn't realize OCD was considered a mood disorder. Having the sensory integration on top of that doesn't help. When he was in elementary school they just thought it was bad parenting. They didn't understand his special needs.

Please remind me is it your daughter that also takes lamictal. Is she currently stable? It sounds like you are very knowledgeable. I appreciate all of your help.

Hi again,

Just to clarify, OCD isn't considered part of a mood disorder, BUT, it isn't uncommon for children (or adults) with mood disorders to have OCD along with it.....

My daughter for instance had big issues with obsessing and compulsive behavior, but isn't considered full fledged OCD.
She is also diagnosed ODD, along with mood disorder.

Mental illnesses can be confusing and symptoms over-lap, so its difficult to tease out what is what.

That being said, her psychiatrist is amazing and has helped her tremendously.
She now takes 250mgs lamictal, and a tiny bit of risperdal to help with aggression/frustration.
She is fairly stable, but puberty is knocking, so she has been a bit challenging lately (she is 12).

I hope the bit of celexa added back in will help. It may, or may not. Sometimes a med initially looks promising, then a few weeks into it, you notice side-effects and a change in the child's behavior.
During this time, it is super helpful to chart (or take notes) of how your child is doing day to day, that way when you look back in a week or two you can have a more accurate account of improvement or not.

I have been learning about my daughter and her diagnoses for a good 5-years now, and have a lot of Dr. appointments under my belt ; )
I like to learn and share with other out there, so people don't feel so alone.

Take care, and write back anytime!!
((Hugs))
Kathleen

Hi, there,

We should chat on the phone sometime. My child is exactly the same age, so we are dealing with puberty as well. When he was just taking the lamictal he put his fist through the wall. He really is a very sweet and loving child, but when the anxiety and irritability are not under control life is a disaster for him and the rest of the family. I think in my son's case with the sensory issues, anxiety, OCD, and puberty this is a challenge for doctors. It's been three days since we added back 10 mg of celexa. I am not sure if it's helping or not. Yes, I have been charting his behavior now for three years. I seem to notice subtle changes in his personality before my husband does. Right now he is making noises like say uhh real loudly to interrupt me when he doesn't want me talking. After about a week or two I should hopefully have enough data to discuss whether the celexa is helping him or not.

I think the psychiatrist might try to convince us to drop the celexa and add abilify again. I just need to find out if he will still gain weight with just the 2mg. That is what my husband didn't like.

Sounds like your daughter is doing well. The therapist keeps reminding me that some day my son won't need medicine hopefully as his front lobe is formed more. I think this kiddoes have an overactive amygdala, which is the flight or fright response.